Archive for September, 2008

Our world is in trouble right now. The moral compass has been broken. The world & the church look to everything but God. We look to other men. We look to the news. We even look to the palm of our hands. Now we are in trouble, it is past time to pray. We should have been praying all along.

Eph 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1Ti 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;

We as a people have neglected the very thing that reaches the heart of God. He longs to hear from his people. He loves us so much that He sent His own Son so He could have fellowship with us.

If you look at the state of the world through the eyes of the News, you would ask the question that a customer of mine asked me the other day: “Should I jump off the roof”. He was so concerned about the state of the world, that he did not have much hope.

OK so we are past time to pray, we are in trouble. Is there any hope? Can we be delivered? There is HOPE. If you have not been praying, start now. The thing I love is that God’s mercy is new every morning. We can start over. We can start now. There is hope.

2Ch 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2Ch 15:4

But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

Psa 9:9

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psa 27:5

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psa 37:39

But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble.

Psa 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Yes God wants us to pray in good times, but if we don’t and we are in trouble and turn to Him, He will hear us. We must come in faith believing that he will deliver us.

Hbr 11:6

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Even though it looks to late, we can be delivered. Even though we have failed, there is hope. There is only one way out, that is through Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He has supplied all that we need through His death.

We must start now. Don’t look at your past and what you have not done. Look right now to the one who can deliver you. Cry out now. Pray now. He is there for you and waits to answer you when you pray. He knows what you have need of and wants to meet those needs. He is a loving and kind Father who loves you more than you will ever know. He does not look at you and say you have sinned too much, you have done to much for me to save or deliver you. He will receive you. It is not too late for this country, if we would come together in prayer believing what God has said. Take time today to pray for this nation, the world, your world, your family, your friends and even your enemies. Praise God he will answer!!!!

The Bible says a lot about murmuring and complaining & the results of doing this. We look at the children of Israel and the disciples and we think how could they complain or doubt God. They saw the mighty miracles first hand. They walked with the one who brought them out of darkness. God provided for them in many ways. But every time something happened that might seem like a rough road they started to murmur and complain. Are we any different today. God has brought us out of a life of guilt and shame. He has given us hope and eternal life, yet when the hard times come we start complaining that it is not enough or it does not meet our expectations.

Many times the children of Israel looked back to Egypt (a type of the world) & started to murmur. They felt they had it good there, better than where they were at the time they began to murmur. They forgot the oppression, the Lack, the bondage, & the lash of the taskmaster that they had. Satan will always glorify the past as if it were some great thing. We watch movies and read love stories with happy endings and we deceive ourselves into thinking that our past was better than it really was. We were alone and had no hope without God!!

If we are not happy with the present we will glorify the past and start complaining about where we are. God is not happy with this. Being dissatisfied with what the Lord has provided leds to unbelief. Muttering of discontentment causes you to start doubting God’s word. (complaining hinders Faith)

Why meditate while continuing to let the dissatisfied heart continue to come out. When we are dissatisfied we start talking & focusing on that thing that bothers us. We must cast our cares on Him, focus on Him, Look to him, be thankful that we can go to him. He knows the end from the beginning. He has the answers. He knows how to get you through whatever situation you are in.

Murmuring breeds rebellious feelings, discontentment, disapproval, an unsatisfied heart, one who is not satisfied with what God is doing in their live and heart.

John 6: 43 Murmur not among yourselves… DO NOT bring others into your murmuring.

Remember where the Lord has brought you from. Don’t look at the things of this world. The things that are going on in you and around you do not have to cause you to murmur and complain. You can look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith and can know that He has all things under control. He is not worried about what is happening to you or around you. He is the all mighty and He will accomplish in you what he has started. So when things do not seem to be what you want them to be, wait on the Lord and see His salvation and His deliverance!!!!

Prov. 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.

The fear of the Lord is not like the fear that comes from something we are afraid of. Like the fear of heights, spiders, etc….(not a phobia) That kind of fear has torment. (2 Tim. 1:7, 1 Jn. 4:18, Prov. 29:25)

The fear of the Lord is to be in awe, reverence, wonder, respect…

We must recognize and respect His authority, His majesty, & His power.

When you respect someone you give them your time & resources, more than respect when you are in awe of someone you would do anything for them.

The Fear of the Lord produces blessings:

Continual spiritual cleansing – Ps. 19:9

Life & many good days – Ps. 34:11-12

A blessed & happy family -Ps. 128

Freedom from all evil fears – Prov. 14:26

A place of security – Prov. 14:26

Deliverance from satanic snares –

abiding satisfaction – Ps. 19:23

Preservation from the visitation of evil – Prov. 19:23

Riches & honor – Prov. 22:4

A hope that extends beyond the grave

No wan to those who fear God – Ps. 34:9

Wisdom – Ps. 111:10, Job. 28:28, Prov. 9:10

Knowledge – Prov. 1:7

Long life – Prov. 10:27

The God kind of fear produces us doing God’s will – Like 22:42. Ps. 111:10

Proverbs 2:1-5

1 MY SON, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,

2 Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it];

3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,

5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

Is. 33:6 The fear of the Lord is our treasure.

If you had a treasure what would you do to protect it? Remember the devil goes around seeking whom he may devourer. He does not like that you are in awe of God. He wants you to fear him. Doing something out of that kind of fear is bondage. The God kind of fear does not produce bondage.

We must be in awe of God’s majesty, His Power, remembering who He is. He is all-knowing, all powerful, Holy, pure, & much more. He made heaven and earth. He is the Almighty. He is Holy. We must remember who we are and who he is.

We must remember just because we have problems in our lives does not mean we do not fear God. This is a fallen world. Sometimes we experience things because of our sin or someone else’s. Sometimes it is satan & sometimes it is just because we are in a fallen world. This is why we need to walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corn. 5:7 We will experience total deliverance when Jesus comes for His people.

Don’t get me wrong we can experience these blessings in this life & that is one of the reasons that Jesus came, so we could have life & life more abundantly. But mostly so we could be reconciled to God. God wants fellowship with us. We need to humble ourselves & look to Him totally for our daily needs. He is God and we are not.

This world looks at blessings & success not as GOd does. we must humble ourselves and bend our knees in wonder & awe of Him. Then we will have true success & blessings. You might be in a pit like Joseph was, but he was right where God wanted him. Soon he was taken to the place where he was able to save many by God’s wisdom & blessings. What I am saying is don’t look at your circumstances to determine if you are blessed. You are blessed as you surrender yourself to the Almighty God. In the Fear of the Lord you will be right where God wants you to be.

In wonder, in awe, in reverence, in total surrender only. Fear no man, fear nothing.